It’s been 17 years since the first Gwladys Street Hall of Fame dinner – a high octane evening at the Adelphi Hotel, vividly captured for posterity in the words of then Daily Post Sports Editor Len Capeling.

After that memorably nostalgic night he wrote: “If heartfelt aspirations were Premiership points Everton would be so far ahead in the title race that the rest would have given up by now. That much was clear from the intoxicating act of worship that saw 84 Goodison greats being ushered up the royal blue carpet into Gwladys Street’s Hall of Fame.

“More than 500 Evertonians dined on a meal of Premiership chicken from which the wishbone had been removed, followed by generous portions of pie in the sky, all washed down with jeroboams of pure adrenaline.

“This is not to be cruel. It was a memorable, memorable night, with due honour being accorded to a pantheon of Goodison gods.”

After a decade of orgiastic adulation, the Hall of Fame closed its doors and the final dinner was staged in 2009. But 20 years after the original concept of the Hall of Fame was launched, it will return.

Conceived by philanthropist, author and Evertonian Dr David France in 1996, Gwladys Street’s Hall of Fame was set up to celebrate the men who have made significant contributions to the development, welfare and success of Everton Football Club - and raise money for a fledgling Former Players Foundation.

Initial inductees were elected by a panel of former-players, journalists, shareholders and season-ticket holders. Since then, Hall of Fame inductees were elected by supporters via postal ballots and internet polls.

At present, there are 129 members. They include representatives from most of the 138 years of the grand old club’s illustrious history – some playing careers stretch back to the days of St Domingo Football Club in Stanley Park. The most recent inductees were added at that final dinner in 2009.

Former Everton player Graham Stuart is one of the past inductees

They included Duncan Ferguson, Tony Kay, Graham Stuart, David Unsworth and Bill Kenwright.

After an eight year absence four new members will be inducted into the Hall of Fame dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Liverpool on March 10, 2017 to raise much needed funds for the Everton Former-Players’ Foundation and EFC Heritage Society.

David says: “It will be a smaller gathering than the Nuremberg Rallies held for 11 years at the Adelphi Hotel but, no doubt, will be equally raucous.”

Many Hall of Fame members will be invited.

During their respective reigns, Blues bosses Walter Smith and David Moyes attended regularly to address and connect with the match-going fans - and current manager Ronald Koeman will be invited.

Ronald Koeman will be invited

Limited to 300 tickets, availability and sale will be announced in October.

A Hall of Fame ballot will be hosted via the internet on fans’ websites ToffeeWeb and NSNO. The ballot will take place from midnight September 11, to midnight September 17 and the Hall of Fame will then have its own website EvertonHallOfFame.com.

All Everton supporters are eligible to vote – but once only - and must select four men from the following shortlist of eight candidates: John Bailey, Kevin Campbell, Martin Dobson, Tony Hibbert, Nigel Martyn, Joe Parkinson, Dave Thomas and Pat van den Hauwe.

The results will be announced formally by David France at The Everton Heritage Evening to take place at the Everton School immediately before the home game with Crystal Palace on September 30. That event is organised to aid Everton in the Community.

Candidates

John Bailey joined Everton from Blackburn in July 1979 for £300,000. The left-back featured in the sides that won the FA Cup in 1984 and the title 1985. Bails was a popular figure in the dressing room where there was more to him than a big hat and glasses. After losing his place to Pat van den Hauwe, he moved to Newcastle in October 1985.

Everton appearances 220 (2) goals 3.

Kevin Campbell was signed on loan from Trabzonspor in March 1999. His impact was immediate - he scored nine times in eight games and saved Everton from relegation. The striker’s transfer was made permanent in the summer of 1999 for a fee of £3 million. He has the distinction of scoring the most goals in the Premier League without earning an England cap as well as the winner in Everton’s last triumph at Anfield in 1999.

Kevin Campbell, Everton

Everton appearances 139 (25), goals 51.

Martin Dobson was the first British player to be transferred for £300,000 when signed from Burnley in 1974. The elegant midfielder - whose silky skills became an integral part of the tactics of the Everton sides in the mid-Seventies which came so close to winning silverware - returned to Burnley in 1979. He was awarded five England caps.

Everton appearances 230, goals 40.

Tony Hibbert, a local boy and Goodison favourite, was a member of the Everton youth team that captured the FA Youth Cup in 1998 and progressed to spend his entire professional career at Goodison. Despite many seasons littered with injuries, the right-back appeared in more competitive European games than any other Everton player.

Everton appearances 297 (32), goals 0.

Nigel Martyn

Nigel Martyn joined Everton for a nominal fee in 2003. Signed originally as back-up to the unreliable Richard Wright, the 37-year old became first-choice after six games. A confident and commanding keeper - the best since Neville Southall - he literally saved Everton from relegation. Awarded 23 England caps, his international career would have flourished but for David Seaman.

Everton appearances 99 (1).

Joe Parkinson was signed from Bournemouth for £250,000 in December 1993. A important part of Royle’s ‘Dogs of War’, the uncompromisingly combative midfielder was a Goodison favourite and help to capture the FA Cup in 1995. Knee injuries resulted in his prolonged absence, retirement in 1999 – at age 28 - and appointment the club’s first Fan Liaison Officer.

Everton appearances 105 (2), goals 4.

Dave Thomas in action for Everton

Dave Thomas was signed from Queens Park Rangers for £200,000 in 1977. The skillful and pacey winger – who bombed down the left touchline with his socks around his ankles– was a key supply route of pin-point crosses to Bob Latchford especially during his 30-goals season. He was awarded eight England caps.

Everton appearances 84, goals 6.

Pat van den Hauwe joined Everton from Birmingham in September 1984 for £100,000. The left-back helped to win the European Cup-Winners’ Cup in 1985 and League titles in 1985 and 1987. His goal at Norwich secured the 1987 silverware. Psycho Pat moved to Tottenham in 1989 for £575,000 Born in Belgium, he was awarded 13 caps by Wales.